Releasable locking joint structures



Jan. 1, 1963 J. BELLOCK RELEASABLE LOCKING JOINT STRUCTURES Filed July27, 1960 IN V EN TOR, JACK BELLOCK,

ATTORNEY.

tates nite The present invention relates to releasable joint conatetstructions for use for instance in articles having framework shipped orstored in knock-down condition, as clothing racks and stands, displayframes, tubulanframe furniture and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved jointstructure which is self-locking and separable.

Another object is to provide novel and improved joints of the charactermentioned, adaptable for releasably joining two elongated members incrossed relation.

A further object thereof is to provide a novel and improved join-tconstruction of the type set forth, which does not detract from theappearance of the article they are used on.

Another object thereof is to provide a novel and improved knock-downclothes rack of the type comprising principally a rectangular framereleasably joined in upright position to a pair of inverted U-shapedlegs which hold said frame between them; such frame being made of partswhich are releasably and securely joined in a novel manner to augmentlocking action at all joints.

Still another object of this invention is to provide con structionshaving the attributes mentioned, which are reasonably cheap tomanufacture, easy to assemble and disassemble and efiicient in carryingout the purposes for which they are designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosureproceeds.

For the practice of this invention, one form it may assume is to havetwo rigid strips of like size and rather of short length. One strip hasa T-slot near each end. From the other, T-prongs are struck up, one neareach end, which are spaced to be entered simultaneously into saidT-slots, and upon relative sliding movement of said strips, said stripsare automatically interlocked. Their sliding in the opposite direction,releases said strips for separation. Dimensions of the slots and prongsare such that when the strips are associated, they will be held securelyone on the other. The positions of the prongs on their little plate orstrip, are preferably such, that said plates coincide when associated tointerlock.

In a clothing rack for instance, such joint structure is used for therectangular frame where it crosses its inverted U-shaped leg members asillustrated herein. Such frame in the construction shown, is made oftubular stock comprising an upright lower U-member, and inverted upperU-member and vertical posts having reduced ends telescopically fittedinto the corresponding distal end of said upper and lower U-mem-bers. Aswill be explained, provision is made to create a stress at each junctionof frame parts, which will augment the locking action of the jointstructures which releasably aflix the leg members to the frame.

A more detailed description of the use of this invention will now begiven, for which reference is had to the accompanying drawing in whichcorresponding parts are indicated by similar characters of reference.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes rack embodying the teachingsof this invention.

FIG. 2 is a composite view of parts of the frame partially assembled,drawn to a reduced scale.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a leg member equippedwith a plate having T-slots.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the 2 frame memberequipped with the plate having the T- prongs.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the parts illustratedin FIGS. 3 and 4, assembled.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally a clothes rackcomprised of a rectangular frame denoted generally by the numeral 16,intermediate and joined to the inverted U-shaped leg members 17, 18.- Ahatand package-carrying shelf 19 of wire-Work may be provided atop andspaced from the frame and the feet at their distal ends may be providedwith slide casters 20 or roller casters (not shown) if desired. The legmembers and frame maybe of tubular stock. Said frame 16 comprises alower, upright U-shaped member 21, and upper, in verted U-shaped member22, the distal ends of which upper and lower members are telescopicallyjoined to the posts 23 and 24, which have reduced ends for such purpose;all such telescopic joints holding by friction. The reduced ends of saidposts which are viewable in the drawing, are indicated by the numerals23' and 24.

Where the frame 16 crosses the leg members 17, 18, a self-locking jointstructure is provided. Since these joints are identical, a descriptionof one will sufiice. There are two plates 25, 26 of identical sizepreferably. Plate 25 is positioned vertically across and welded to thebase element 17' of the leg member 17. Through each free end portion ofsaid plate 25, there is an upright T-slot. These slots are denoted bythe numerals 27 and 27' respectively. Plate 26 is positioned upright,outside along a side of the frame 16, near the bottom of said frame,Whereat it is welded thereto to be opposite the plate 25. This plate 26has the T-shaped prongs 28, 28' struck up therefrom perpendicular tosaid pl-ates surface, and so spaced therealong that when engaged in theT- slots 27, 27 respectively, said plates will coincide. The leg of eachT-prong is of a height that the plates 25, 26 will be in tightfrictional contact when the T-prong legs are within the openings formingthe legs of said Ts1ots.

When the joint structures of FIG. 5 are used in conjunction with legmembers 17, 18 to releas-ably interlock thereto a sectional frame 16,and a rod 30 having some resilient quality, is provided connecting theleg members a bit away from said joints, I make the corners C of theframe member 22, degrees each, but the corners of frame member 21 beforeassembly of the frame, I make an angle A near to, yet not equal to 90degrees. After the posts 23, 24 are set in assembly with the member 21,such posts will not be parallel and will require either to be broughttogether a little from their upwardly convergent condition shown in FIG.2, or urged apart a little if angle A is less than a right angle, tomount the member 22. Not only is there good frictional engagement at thetelescopic joint against disassociation of the members 21 and 22 fromthe posts, but such friction and resulting engagement is augmented dueto the stresses set up in the frame 16 to bring the angles A to 90degrees each. I prefer that the rod 30' shall be slightly bent if theangles A are less than 90' degrees each, but it may be straight it suchangles A are more than 90 degrees. With said tie rod 30 is assemblybefore the frame member 22 is mounted on the otherwise assembled rack15, then upon completion of the frame assembly, the stressing to changeangle A to a right angle B, will stress the tie rod 30, which in turnwill stress the joint connection of FIG. 5 to augment the friction ofthe association of the plates 25, 26 and thus strengthen the jointafforded at the leg members 17, 18. The rod 30 used with member 21,serves or may serve as a shoe rack. Garment hangers are supported ofcourse, on the upper frame member 22. Umbrellas may be hung on the hooks31.

Although the joint structure shown in FIG. 5 shows angle D a rightangle, it may be made to suit any angular relation in which the partsjoined are to be associated, by change of angle D to that angle which isrequired.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applicationswithout departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It istherefore intended and desired that the embodiments described hereinshall be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive and that thepatent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth, referencebeing had to the following claim rather than to the specific showingherein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

In a structure including an upright frame made of an upright U-shapedmember having upright arms and an inverted U-shaped top member; thedistal ends of said top member being telescopically associated with therespective distal ends of said upright member, a pair of leg members;said frame being intermediate said leg members; said leg members beingreleasably joined to the upright arms of said upright memberrespectively by cooperating joint structure on each arm of said uprightmember and the leg members respectively adjacent them;

each joint structure requiring relative movement along the vertical, ofan arm and its associated leg for efiecting their release from eachother; the improvement being that the distal ends of said top memberbefore assembly with said upright member is of a predetermined distanceapart different than the distance the distal ends of said upright memberare apart, whereby said frame parts are stressed upon assembly to formthe frame, and a rod having some resilient quality, joined at its endsto said leg members respectively; said rod being spaced from said frameand in stressed'condition whereby the locking action of said joints isaugmented at each joint structure respectively; such stressed conditionof said rod being caused by assembling said frame members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS685,530 Schneider ()ct. 29, 1901 850,658 Koonee Apr. 16, 1907 948,054Hunt Feb. 1, 1910 1,930,856 Mioton Oct. 17, 1933

